Issues

Common Cause Massachusetts is the citizens' lobby. We are fighting for you on Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill. For more than 40 years, we've been leading the effort to put the people's voices ahead of the special interests.

We are leading campaigns to curb the influence of big money in politics, ensure high ethical standards in government, reduce barriers to voting, make government more open and transparent, and to reform our media policies to promote the public interest.

We live in an information age, but misinformation is an all-too-prevalent part of modern elections, as partisans seek to depress turnout in targeted communities. Election saboteurs typically distribute literature publicizing erroneous voting hours and/or polling places. Some also use computer-generated "robocalls," and email chains to contact hundreds of voters simultaneously with deceptive messages; others distribute misinformation geared toward intimidating targeted voter groups and keeping them away from the polls. Learn More ›

Our public records law is broken. Journalists, concerned citizens, and others with a need "and right" to know how our government is working often can't get information. Executive branch and municipal records are supposed to be public unless specifically exempt, but they have become functionally inaccessible due to excessive cost, technological barriers, and administrative obstruction or delay. Learn More ›